How to install calipers on brakes?

[drichards]

Thanks to everyone for the wealth of information on this site. I recently picked up an old go-kart from a friend to fix up with my two boys. It’s been a fun journey and we have learned a lot. I tried to take pictures of everything we disassembled so we could put it back together after ample sanding, etc. The only thing I have a question about is the brakes. The kart has standard disc/caliper brakes. The calipers fell out when I loosened the bolts and they look like they are still intact (if somewhat worn). My question is, should I put glue on them to hold them in place? Or do I just try to make them wedge in there when I screw them back together.

I tried to attach photos, so hopefully they come through.

Thanks!

 

[itsid]

NOOOOO
no glue! [and welcome on diygk ]

the caliper must slide on the bracket (it's a single piston caliper)
so in orer to apply preasure to both sides of the disc it must FLOAT in it's bracket
(that's what the slots on the side are for)

the bolts just disassemble the caliper for you to replace the pucks and do some maintenance when necessary.
the other half is still stuck to the frame (the bracket.. or in your case cutout rather)
remove it and reassemble the brake caliper after cleaning (and maybe installing new pucks)

under no circumstance wedge it in, or lock the caliper in place laterally to the disc,
it'll only cost you pucks, lifecycle and most of all stopping power

'sid

PS make sure to straighten the bracket it fell out of, add some grease to make it slide freely..
it'll be held in place by the disc itself (so it cannot fall out )

 

[drichards]

Thanks so much! So the pucks just stay in place without being glued in place? I may need to get new ones then, as I'm not sure they are thick enough.

 

[mckutzy]

While its apart, clean the whole lot... All dirt and other debris...
DON'T LOOSE THE BULLET SHAPED PISTON....

Grease the ways where the caliper rides the bracket rail...
Give the brake pucks a light sanding(wear a mask) aswell as the disc. It doesn'tt need to polished but an even dirt free surface(by hand or a sander) med grit...

---------- Post added at 10:12 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:11 AM ----------

One puck is free.. On the moving side... That's how it adjusts... The stationary side needs to be epoxied on...

 

[qtband]

When I have issues installing the brake with the pucks, I just use masking tape to hold them in.
After installed, just pull the tape out.

 

[drichards]

By the way, anyone have any idea what kind of go-kart this is? It has not name on it and I'm wondering if it was just something home-cooked. Thx.

 

[itsid]

...One puck is free.. On the moving side... That's how it adjusts... The stationary side needs to be epoxied on...

it's epoxied? wow that's weird.. I thought it had locator pins just like on "real" brake calipers

Anyways.. in that case the "no glue" statement is out the door I guess

'sid

 

[qtband]

I've never glued any of mine...